Filed under: film, olympus om-2n, photography by ramune

M83 – Midnight City

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It’s time to say goodbye to 2011 and welcome the beginning of the end (or the beginning of more of the same). 2011 was a bit all over the place and I am looking forward to what will likely be a lot of changes in 2012. Here are a few statistics for 2011:

• 3 weddings
• 2 Polaroid exhibits
• 100+ photos of old barns across four states
• 1 ostrich egg decorated for Easter
• 2 county fairs
• 1 run into Lake Michigan on New Years day when it felt like -8F
• 13 concerts (not including Moogfest)
• 18 bands seen at Moogfest
• 0 days of snow in December

All the best for a great new year and please do a little snow dance. This 50F+ degree weather on the last day of 2011 is a little ridiculous.

Filed under: film, holga, mamiya m645, photography by ramune

Tobacco – Hairy Candy

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As it is starting to get a bit chilly outside, I thought I’d post some photos from the Arlington County Fair I attended when it was hot and muggy just a few months ago. Nothing says a county fair like corn dogs, piglet races, squealing animals (both porcine and human) and vomit-inducing rides. The piglet races were definitely the highlight even though I couldn’t help but want to take a bite out of their haunches. The black and white photos were shot with my Mamiya m645 (R.I.P.) and the color photos were shot with my Holga.

Filed under: film, mamiya m645, photography by ramune

Metronomy – The Look

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This is my friend in his sun/music room reflecting on his life . . . or just looking at a bug.

In other news, I have had the latest Metronomy album on repeat for a while now. I highly recommend it.

Filed under: film, photography, polaroid by ramune

Austra – Beat and the Pulse

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Do I hear crickets? Tumbleweeds? Yes . . . it’s been a bit since I updated the blog. It’s time to catch up!

A while back I ordered a six pack of “poor pod” film from The Impossible Project and was pleasantly surprised by my first photo. I thought for sure there would be strange undeveloped patches but so far I haven’t had that issue with this film. There have been issues with overexposure and blurriness, but that might be user error. If I had my way, all instant film would have this stylin’ black frame.

Filed under: film, mamiya m645, photography by ramune

The Soft Moon – Breathe the Fire

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I’m not sure what it is, but I’ve been drawn to photographing bare branches this winter. Here are some I shot with the Mamiya m645 on Kodak 100 TMAX film back in November and just got around to scanning.

Filed under: film, mamiya m645, photography by ramune

Gold Panda – I’m With You But I Am Lonely

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Oops. The time seems to have slipped by during this busy season. Here is a photo I took while in NYC back in November. You meet some strange people on the streets of New York when you put your Mamiya on a post to take a long exposure in the rain.

While I was taking this photo (and was completely guessing at how long to leave the shutter open), this man walked up to me and started talking to me about my camera, how you don’t see those much anymore, and how I should be a fashion photographer in NYC because 1. “Anyone who knows how to use a camera like that is a good photographer” (I disagree), and 2. He could hook me up with everything I need (lights, contacts . . .). I probably stood there talking to him for 30-45 minutes . . . or rather, he was talking to me for 30-45 minutes. I couldn’t tell if he was homeless or actually knew what he was talking about, but he was a little disheveled, had some cuts on his forehead and had an incredible amount of knowledge about what seemed like every ad agency, magazine, newspaper and photographer in the world . . . each of which was the best to work for. He said it was all a formula.

He insisted I write down his number so I can call him when I move back and he will take me to lunch and give me all his secrets about the business. I spent most of the conversation wondering if any of what he was telling me was real. Either way, it was an interesting encounter. I don’t think I will be a fashion photographer in NYC anytime soon.

Note: This Gold Panda track takes some time to build up and gets all kinds of fun at 3:08 . . . so be patient.

Filed under: film, mamiya m645, photography by ramune

Junip – In Every Direction

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I may have just developed a fear of tape measures. Found this soiled antique clown tape measure in Lucketts. If it didn’t have mystery stains on it, I probably would have bought it.

Note: I don’t know what’s going on at the top of the photo or why it isn’t a full frame, but it might have something to do with it being the first shot on the roll and I must not have wound it far enough.

Filed under: film, mamiya m645, photography by ramune

Bonobo – Animals

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Two weekends in a row I visited the Lucketts antique stores and went a little crazy taking photos. There are so many interesting objects and textures everywhere in that town. Here are some photos from a roll of Kodak Ektacolor Pro 160 film shot on my Mamiya m645. In hindsight I wish I had bought that Sack Time tray. I would offer you milk and freshly baked chocolate chip cookies on it if you came over.

Marvel at the frills in the last photo. That room was covered in delicate vintage frilly dresses and hats. The woman who owns all of it came in and asked me why I was taking photos because she has had people steal her ideas. Since I don’t have a collection of vintage frilly dresses and accessories, I don’t think she needs to be concerned.

Filed under: experimental, film, polaroid by ramune

Benoît Pioulard – Shouting Distance

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This week’s polaroids were taken on The Impossible Project‘s First Flush Color Shade film. It has taken some getting used to, but I find when using it in high contrast situations (like a sunny day at the antique shops in Lucketts, VA) I quite like the results.

Last week I saw Benoît Pioulard live in Brooklyn and really enjoyed the show. As if I wasn’t listening to his music enough before seeing him live, now I can’t seem to listen to anything else. I am particularly fond of this song between 0:50 – 1:30 minutes.

Note: Please excuse those pesky Newton’s rings. I might rescan them when I have a moment and see if I can get rid of them.

Filed under: film, mamiya m645, photography by ramune

The Good, The Bad And The Queen – Herculean

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I wasn’t sure it would happen, but I am all caught up on this year’s posts. They may not have been posted every seven days as I initially intended, but at least I posted 52 in a year.

This is the Lake Point Tower in Chicago shot on my Mamiya m645 with Kodak Portra 400VC . . . check out those curves.